A team of researchers from China, Britain and Bangladesh converted pluripotent stem cells, or an "adult" version of early embryonic cells, back to a more "juvenile" version of cells with developmental potential, tantamount to fertilized eggs in their day 3 developmental stage.
由中国、英国和孟加拉国的科学家组成的研究团队将人类多能干细胞，即“成年”版本的早期胚胎细胞，转化成具有发育潜力的、更“年轻”的干细胞，即相当于受精卵发育3天状态的全能干细胞。
Totipotent 8-cell stage embryo-like cells recreate the embryonic state of a fertilized egg after only three divisions, making them the youngest human cells acquired in vitro ever known, Li Wenjuan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said.
中国科学院的李文娟博士表示，这些全能性的8细胞期胚胎样细胞重建了受精卵仅分裂3次后的胚胎状态，这是迄今为止在体外诱导获得的“最年轻”的人类细胞。


Cells described as "totipotent" mean that they have the potential to create all types of cells within embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues, according to researchers.
据介绍，全能性细胞意味着它们有潜力分化出胚胎和胚胎外组织中所有类型的细胞。


"These cells can not only differentiate into placental tissue but also potentially develop into more mature organs," Li said.
李文娟博士说，这种细胞可以分化为胎盘组织，并可能发育为更成熟的各类身体组织。


Ethical review had given clearance to the relevant study.
该研究已通过伦理审查。